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On the eve of the Saturday launch of the Union Pearson Express (UPX) Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig took questions from readers at thestar.com about fares, electrification and the cost of building the new train between Union Station and the airport.

Here's an edited look at some of those questions and answers:

Q: Is there a date and money on the table to retrofit this dirty diesel to clean efficient electric before carcinogens infiltrate the air of Toronto residents?

BM: The recent provincial budget set aside funding for Regional Express Rail, which includes electrification of the corridors, including UPX. We are folding the UPX electrification into the electrification of the Kitchener corridor as far as Bramalea, and we expect electrification to start being operational on five of the lines in 2023.

Q: I have a family of five. Why should I take the UPX when I can get airport taxi for a third of the price ?

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BM: The family of five have the option of buying a family pass for $55 which is cheaper than taking a cab or limo from downtown, even more once you factor in a tip. You get a departure every 15 minutes and a reliable 25-minute trip instead of the uncertainty of traffic on the roads and highways. I personally think that having a convenient, reliable trip to the airport, with all the other stresses of travel, is a good value proposition.

Q: I'm curious about the plans for additional stations on the corridor at Mount Dennis/Eglinton and Woodbine/Highway 27. Do you see UPX trains stopping there and how soon could this happen?

BM: We are building in plans for a new GO station and UPX station into the construction contract for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The Crosstown phase 1 ends at Mount Dennis and I think it would be a great place to have an interchange to give people more choice. At Woodbine, we have done what transit planners call "protect" for a potential future station. The timing of that is not known, but could be linked to future plans that Woodbine racetrack may have.

Another thought. More stations connected in to the subway (like Dundas West/Bloor) and a future location at Mount Dennis means you can access the service at a lower cost. The trip from Dundas West/Bloor to the airport will have a fare of $15.20 if you use your PRESTO card. People want and need choice to access transit services.

Q: How many riders will the UP Express need to have per day to meet the break-even point for the cost of the service? And have you factored in any repayment of the construction cost to implement this service or is the GO Train picking up all the cost?

BM: We plan to have the fare box for UPX cover its operating costs within three to five years. As you would expect, it will take a few years to build the ridership, just like any other system. We are not expecting fares to pay back the capital costs at this time. The province has invested the $456 million in the capital and it would be unusual in a North American context to expect customers to pay back the capital cost through their fares. I don't know off the top of my head how many riders per day will be needed for cost recovery, but we do expect that level of ridership by year three to five.

Q: Will you ever use this train on your way to or from Pearson, instead of taking a cab?

BM: Absolutely. I am travelling to Ottawa on Monday to meet with OC Transpo who also use PRESTO. I am flying out from Pearson but plan to take the GO train to Union and then UP Express to Pearson, using my PRESTO card of course. I have been on the service five times during the testing and commissioning process and I think that customers will fall in love with it, when you consider the alternatives.

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